Karl Opfermann (1891 - 1960) - photo 1

Karl Opfermann

Karl Opfermann, a German sculptor and graphic artist born in 1891 in Rødding (now Denmark), carved a niche for himself in the realms of art and culture. His initial training as an ornament creator led him to the influential circles of Hamburg and Berlin, where he honed his artistic skills under the guidance of Heinz Wedding, Fritz Heit, and Richard Luksch. Opfermann's artistic journey was deeply intertwined with notable groups like the "Hamburgische Sezession" and the "Novembergruppe" in Berlin, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the local sculptural landscape from 1919 to 1933.

Tragically, Karl Opfermann's works became a target during the "Entartete Kunst" (Degenerate Art) action in 1937 by the Nazis, leading to their removal and destruction from German museums. A significant portion of his oeuvre was further lost in a bombing in 1943, which destroyed his studio in Hamburg. Despite these challenges, Opfermann's legacy persists, with efforts to reconstruct his life and works focusing on the years before 1943, the period before the destruction wrought by the Nazis and World War II.

Karl Opfermann's artistic expression was rooted in German Expressionism, a movement born out of resistance and reaction, emphasizing emotion and individual experience. His works, spanning various mediums including wood, stone, and ceramics, reflect a profound emotional depth and a unique exploration of human form and expression.

For collectors and experts in art and antiques, Karl Opfermann's work offers a compelling glimpse into the turbulent yet artistically rich period of early 20th-century Germany. His sculptures and graphic art, held in various collections throughout Germany, including Hamburg and Flensburg, stand as a testament to his enduring impact on German Expressionism.

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Date and place of birt:28 september 1891, Røddinge, Denmark
Date and place of death:7 march 1960, Ahrensburg, Germany
Nationality:Germany, Denmark
Period of activity: XX century
Specialization:Artist, Ceramist, Portraitist, Sculptor, Wood carver
Art school / group:Hamburg Secession
Genre:Portrait sculpture, Portrait
Art style:Art Nouveau, Expressionism, German Expressionism
Technique:Wood carving
Medium:Ceramic, Clay, Wood, Stone

Creators Germany

Franz Horny (1798 - 1824)
Franz Horny
1798 - 1824
Theodor Karner (1885 - 1966)
Theodor Karner
1885 - 1966
Horst Skodlerrak (1920 - 2001)
Horst Skodlerrak
1920 - 2001
Theodor Müller (1838 - 1908)
Theodor Müller
1838 - 1908
Jakob Kolding (1971)
Jakob Kolding
1971
Moritz Götze (1964)
Moritz Götze
1964
Giovanni Battista Pedrozzi (1711 - 1778)
Giovanni Battista Pedrozzi
1711 - 1778
Paul Walter Ehrhardt (1872 - 1959)
Paul Walter Ehrhardt
1872 - 1959
Katharina Duwe (1952)
Katharina Duwe
1952
Karl Ulrich Nuss (1943)
Karl Ulrich Nuss
1943
Johann Sperl (1840 - 1914)
Johann Sperl
1840 - 1914
Friedemann Hahn (1949)
Friedemann Hahn
1949
Richard Oelze (1900 - 1980)
Richard Oelze
1900 - 1980
Anton Kerschbaumer (1885 - 1931)
Anton Kerschbaumer
1885 - 1931
Sarah Schumann (1933 - 2019)
Sarah Schumann
1933 - 2019
Stefan Szczesny (1951)
Stefan Szczesny
1951

Creators Art Nouveau

Ingwer Paulsen (1883 - 1943)
Ingwer Paulsen
1883 - 1943
Oswaldo Guayasamín (1919 - 1999)
Oswaldo Guayasamín
1919 - 1999
Gian Casty (1914 - 1979)
Gian Casty
1914 - 1979
Karl Caspar (1879 - 1956)
Karl Caspar
1879 - 1956
Carlotta Stocker (1921 - 1972)
Carlotta Stocker
1921 - 1972
Jean Lebedeff (1884 - 1972)
Jean Lebedeff
1884 - 1972
Jeane Flieser (1912 - 2007)
Jeane Flieser
1912 - 2007
Johan (Jan) Thorn Prikker (1868 - 1932)
Johan (Jan) Thorn Prikker
1868 - 1932
Mariia Vasilevna Iakunchikova-Veber (1870 - 1902)
Mariia Vasilevna Iakunchikova-Veber
1870 - 1902
Josef Kulicka (1933 - 2023)
Josef Kulicka
1933 - 2023
Elmar Kopp (1929 - 2020)
Elmar Kopp
1929 - 2020
William Roberts (1895 - 1980)
William Roberts
1895 - 1980
Franz Metzner (1870 - 1919)
Franz Metzner
1870 - 1919
Wilhelm Schnarrenberger (1892 - 1966)
Wilhelm Schnarrenberger
1892 - 1966
Nikolai Astrup (1890 - 1928)
Nikolai Astrup
1890 - 1928
Joan Eardley (1921 - 1963)
Joan Eardley
1921 - 1963
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